North Alabama Rant

24NOV06

OPREP: REV. PHELPS COUNTER DEMONSTRATION IN HUNTSVILLE, AL

Rev. Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church (Topeka, KS) arrived in Huntsville, AL to protest the funeral of Nicole Ford. Ms. Ford was one of the four students killed in a school bus crash in Huntsville earlier this week after the bus veered off the highway and plunged roughly 30 feet off the overpass.

Once local organizations found out about the WBC arriving in Huntsville the word quickly spread. Immediately, local atheists and freethinkers began to think of ways to counter Phelps’ presence.

Members of the North Alabama Freethought Association, an affiliate of American Atheists, were equally enthusiastic to become involved.

A scout team was sent ahead the night before to scope out a staging area and identify where the church was, where Phelps’ people would be, and where demonstrators could best position themselves to serve the greater good.

The purpose, as agreed upon by everyone involved, was not to protest Phelps and bring attention to him, but to show support for the grieving family and bring together the community for a good cause.

The emphasis, as was pointed out to several media personnel during the demonstration, was to put aside religious, political, philosophical, and ideological differences so that everyone could come together as a community and show that hate is not respected in Huntsville and that supporting the grief of a family is more important. Through tragedy should come love – not hate. This point was emphasized when two Christians, a Pagan, and a Buddhist joined the atheists in support of the family and in defiance of Phelps’ group.

Demonstrators arrived on scene at 10:30 AM only to find out that the road leading to their predetermined staging area had been shut down by the police. Out of all the roads available, the police chose that particular road as their staging area. Demonstrators quickly had to adapt to the change and designated a new staging area about one mile south of the funeral and agreed to shuttle everyone back and forth to avoid the mile long hike.

Before shuttling people back and forth, Blair gave a quick “training” on what to do when approached by police, press, civilians, or any of Phelps’ group. It was also important to emphasize, that while we were there as atheists, our primary concern was showing community support and not speaking out directly against Phelps, which would only have brought more attention on him. The idea of the demonstration was not to protest Phelps, per se, but to directly support the family and friends of those killed in the tragic bus accident earlier this week.

After the first group arrived on scene, Huntsville City Councilman Glen Watson (District 5) advised the atheists that they could all join in one area without fear of arrest or harassment by the police. Councilman Watson extended his appreciation for atheists showing up and did not flinch when demonstrators identified themselves as atheists. Councilman Watson welcomed atheists with open arms and a “verbal permit” was granted to counter demonstrate.

A verbal permit was important because demonstrators were unable to procure a legal permit due to time constraints. Demonstrators were planning on standing in groups of four at least thirty feet apart in order to not violate Alabama, Madison County, and City of Huntsville legal codes.

The Councilman’s support was a huge boost to the group. Two city buses were blocking Phelps’ view of the church where Ms. Ford’s funeral was taking place. The buses also prevented the media from covering Phelps’ group. Most importantly, the buses, and the presence of demonstrators, blocked those attending the funeral from seeing Phelps’ group. Councilman Watson joked that it was unfortunate that the buses ran out of gas and that gas was coming up from Birmingham and should arrive around 2 PM.

At one point the owner of the property that demonstrators were on asked everyone to leave. However, Councilman Watson was able to work out a compromise with the property owner and demonstrators only had to move approximately fifty feet south (closer to Phelps’ group).

While the atheists were clearly the largest organized group assembled, many other people showed up, including the North Alabama Peace Network, the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and many concerned individuals. Everyone stood together, regardless of their differences, and showed support where it was needed and stood up to hatred and bigotry.

Phelps’ permit was from 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM. At exactly 12:00 PM the police escorted Phelps’ group away from their designated protest area. Demonstrators immediately started clapping and cheering as Phelps’ group left the scene. The police provided an escort for Phelps’ group out of the area.

In order to provide privacy to the mourners (the funeral started at noon), the demonstrators immediately began leaving after Phelps’ people departed.

Atheists gathered at a local Chinese restaurant for lunch afterward. Everyone agreed that this demonstration was both positive and rewarding. Everyone agreed that they felt really good about what they did, especially since the message we were delivering was positive.

NAFA members were interviewed by the Birmingham News, WVTM Birmingham, the Associated Press, and other news agencies.

This demonstration in support of the grieving family and friends of Ms. Ford was an outstanding success for everyone. Several family members of Ms. Ford drove by us and waved and yelled “Thank you” from their cars. Many regular citizens driving by also waved and gave demonstrators a thumbs-up. A cousin of Ms. Ford approached a NAFA member and asked for the sign so she could remember the support for her family. She was given a sign that said, “Respect the Funeral.” She thanked everyone for showing their support and then began heading toward the church where the funeral was about to begin.

Blair said, “I would like to personally thank everyone that came out and helped us support this family during their time of grief. It was important for the state of Alabama and the United States to know that the message of Phelps’ was not tolerated and that we supported our community, regardless of faith or lack thereof. We felt good knowing we let Ms. Ford’s family know they had community support.”

“We particularly owe Councilman Watson huge thanks,” continued Blair, “for his support in getting the police to allow us to stay and his compromise with the property owner. Without Councilman Watson’s support for the family and cause, the demonstration may not have been as successful as it was.”

It is estimated that forty people attended the demonstration.

Thanks again to everyone that came out and participated!

It is bad enough that three local students are dead and a lot more injured after a local school bus plunged off the I-565 onto Church Street in Huntsville. The community is dealing with that tragedy the best way it can.

Now we find out that Rev. Phelps and his band of moronic hate-mongers are coming to town to protest the funerals of the children killed in the accident.

Apparently, Rev. Phelps thinks that Alabama is going to Hell and has lost its godly way. Has he forgotten about Roy Moore and all of the other religious crap we have to deal with here in Alabama?

Because we found out so late that he was coming and the Thanksgiving holiday has closed the Madison County offices, we cannot have a large-scale counter-protest to this moron to let Alabamians and Americans know that his views are not tolerated here in Alabama.

However, as individuals, we have the right to freedom of speech and assembly and we will use those rights this weekend. As individuals we can stand on the street with a sign. As individuals we can line the street to let his people know they are not welcome and to let the mourners of the funeral know that we are with them.

Phelps is just one more reason why religion is bad.

ORIGINAL COMPOSE DATE: 06 February, 2006

What is going on with the Muslims? I understand that every religion has its radicals. I understand that every ideology has its radicals, as well. Even among Atheists, a few radicals exist out there that could give the rest of us a bad name. Most Atheists do not let the few radicals speak for all of us.

In most of my essays, I tend to pick on Christianity because I live in a country dominated by Christians. I can suppose that if I lived in Tehran that most of my essays would pick on Islam. Then again, if I lived in Tehran, I would have been dead years ago when I first pronounced my own Atheism.

Christianity has its dark past. I do not think that anyone denies that. To Christianity’s credit, most Christians are docile and do not take their religion seriously enough to embark upon the recent acts the world has witnessed by the Muslim communities.

There are a few radical Christians in the United States. Now and then, they blow up an abortion clinic, kill abortion providers, chop off their baby’s arms for God, beat up a homosexual, or other acts of violence. Most Christians are content to attend a peaceful protest or to initiate a letter-writing campaign to their congressional representatives.

Of course, as my wife pointed out, it may be the environment of the United States keeping Christians docile. For example, Christians in many African countries are committing atrocities on a daily basis and openly fighting Muslims for a foothold of power. Another recent example would be the crises in Kosovo, Serbia, and Yugoslavia.

When Christians are upset about a portrayal of Jesus, they use boycotts, write letters, and stand in the picket lines. A good example would be The Last Temptation of Christ when it first came out. Christians were upset, but no one burned down theaters that ran the movie or blew up the production studio. A few Christians picketed theaters that ran the movie, but that is a right afforded to Americans by our Constitution.

As I stated above, there are radical Christians in the United States that go to the extreme when they are upset over an issue. Michael Newdow, the Atheist that sued for the removal of “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, received numerous death threats on his answering machine.

I have received a few death threats over the years. It comes with the territory. When you speak out about people’s religions, you tend to make them angry. The issue is not the anger, but the expression of that anger. Sending me hate email is one thing, but setting my house on fire is another. The worst thing to happen to me during my years of activism is my car was bashed in with a baseball bat, my bumper stickers stolen, Bibles left on the porch, and a cross planted in my front yard (made from sticks).

I used to think that the majority of Muslims were peaceful and that they only suffered, like Christianity, from a few radicals amongst them. A friend of mine challenged me to find one geographic area in the world, dominated by Islam, which was not in conflict with itself or its neighboring countries. Turkey immediately came to mind, but then I remembered that Turkey hates Greece and has border skirmishes with Armenia and the Turks in Northern Iraq. I should also note that without the secular Turkish Army, Turkey could very well fall into a theocracy no different from the Taliban.

Recent behavior by Islamic adherents around the world is making me rethink my view of Islam again. After my friend’s challenge, I had to rethink my view in the first place, but now I am rethinking my position on a new level.

The recent actions by Muslims around the world reacting to a comic strip depiction of Mohammed in a Danish newspaper are abhorrent. These people take their religion too seriously and they are a danger to everyone around them.

We understand that it is against the Islamic religion to draw or depict Mohammed. We understand that the image was offensive to Muslims. Regardless of their religious dogma, what right does that give them to torch embassies, initiate death threats, and harm people over a depiction by a non-Muslim? The actions of Muslims in the streets of the Islamic communities have shone a new light on Islam for the rest of the world. How does offense over religious dogma justify physical harm to others?

One cannot watch the video of the demonstrations in Syria and Lebanon and think for one minute that there are only a few radicals responsible. The throngs of Muslims in the street burning Danish flags, protesting violently, burning embassies and attaché offices, and voicing death threats speaks volumes to the mindset of the average Muslim.

The reaction by the Islamic community is ridiculous. No religion should take itself so seriously to incite such a reaction. We are not seeing normal anger over an issue. We are witnessing pure outrage over a silly comic strip portrayal of Islam’s prophet. Mohammed is not a god or the son of a god. Mohammed is only a prophet. Getting this upset over a portrayal of a prophet is a sign of a religion that is in desperate need of help.

The Danes must now be concerned about terrorism in their own country. The torching of the Danish embassies is an act of terrorism, perpetuated by religion. Terrorism is a faith-based problem.

Some would argue that perhaps it is cultural instead of religious. The recent actions of Muslims in Safaga, Egypt would be an example. Were the actions of the Muslims on the pier attacking the offices of El Salam Maritime and Egyptian police motivated by culture or religion? Can you imagine if Americans tore down the offices of a major airline when investigators found that pilot error caused the loss of 240 passengers?

I admit that some cultural aspect may play into the fervor seen in the streets of Islamic countries where rioters are destroying Danish symbols and buildings. However, as we know from our experiences in the United States, culture and religion are interchangeable and influence each other equally. The two feed off each other.

In many cases, the religion creates the culture. The Islamic religion has stifled growth in Muslim countries. Theocratic Islamic countries teach children the Qur’an instead of math and science. We have heard a lot about Madras schools in the Middle East since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. When you pound religion into the minds of children and do not education them properly, then you establish a culture of ignorance based on religious fanaticism.

If the United States became a theocracy and we bore the Bible into children’s heads instead of math and science, then we would expect to see the same thing here. Industry would disappear and our civilization would resort to a Medieval mindset.

I recently visited www.ogrish.com to view a few videos. I watch the videos to remind me why I am opposed to the war in Iraq. I support our troops and it angers me to see them killed and maimed by religious fanatics. We can call them terrorists all day, but when you watch the videos that they make of their attacks, you can clearly tell that they are religious fanatics.

In almost every video taken of attacks on American soldiers, the attackers are chanting “Allah Akbar” repeatedly. American soldiers are not chanting, “The Will of Jesus” repeatedly when they engage targets. Listening to Muslims chanting religious rhetoric while they are killing innocent people is sickening. It is a reminder of the dark side of religion in general, and the evil of Islam. That is right. I said it. Islam is evil.

The Islamic attackers enjoy killing people for Allah. They truly believe they are doing the work of Allah by killing infidels and the Muslims that help infidels. If nationalism or a sense of patriotism for their former government motivated the attackers, then perhaps we could understand just a little bit (after all, our Founding Fathers fought the same battle). That is not the case, though. The motivation is solely religion. They are not chanting, “Long live Saddam” or “Long live Iraq” when they attack people. They are chanting the name of Allah and saying it is his will for infidels to die.

The Islamic religion is driving Muslims to commit acts of atrocity against anyone they can. Even their fellow Muslims are not safe. My mother asked me why they were attacking fellow Muslims. She wanted to write a letter to Islamic papers in the Middle East asking them why they were killing each other. I told my mother that the Qur’an makes it clear that any Muslim that aids an infidel is worse than the infidel (see below for text of Surah).

The Qur’an is full of Surahs that talk about killing infidels. I have included the Surahs that I have found in the Qur’an below so you can see for yourself. I know of three references in the Bible to killing infidels (two in the OT and one in the NT), but the Qur’an is full of them. I am sure that in searching the Qur’an I did not find all the references to killing infidels.

Islam is approximately five hundred years younger than Christianity. When you think about the history of Christianity five hundred years ago, it is not much different from today’s Islam. Christianity had a reformation that changed the landscape of the theology and calmed it down a bit. The reformation did not solve all of the problems, but it made a big dent in them. Islam is in desperate need of a reformation.

If Islam does not see a reformation soon, then we will be fighting this menace for a long time to come. As long as Islam remains in its current state then the world faces a great danger. No country is safe from the Islamic mindset.

There is a catch, though. The Bush Administration fails to grasp the catch. Islam is not compatible with Democracy. As I said above, even the democratic Turkey is tenable, as several coups have occurred over the years to overthrow fundamentalist governments. Islam needs a theocracy, dictatorship, or monarchy.

We cannot change the government of an Islamic country and hope that theocracy does not reestablish itself. We must change the mindset of Muslims first. We must reform Islam before we have a chance of bringing democracy to the Muslim world.

The recent elections in Palestine speak volumes to this. The people of Palestine did not elect a democratic government or a reform government. They elected a terrorist organization to run their country. The reason they elected a terrorist organization to lead their government is that the majority of Muslims support terrorist activity in the name of Allah.

We cannot win the war on terrorism unless we change Islam first. As long as Islam remains in its current theological state then terrorism will be with us. For every terrorist that we kill, we make more in the name of Allah. For every country that we invade, we make more terrorists in a rejuvenated thrust of Islamic pride.

Islam is the enemy. Islam needs to be reformed. The Islamic faith, as it stands, is the number one problem facing the global community.

I am certainly not suggesting that we go to war with every Islamic community. I am certainly not suggesting that we launch nuclear weapons against the Middle East and turn the desert into a giant piece of glass. Actions like that will only escalate the violence to new levels.

I am not sure how we can manipulate the theology of Islam to force a reformation. I do not have a solution. I wish I did. The future of Islam rests in the hands of the worlds’ Muslims. Unfortunately, the hands of today’s Muslims are already marred with blood and the mindset of violence is already set. The children of today’s Muslims are our next best hope, but when watching videos of the children in the streets emulating their parents, that hope is diminishing quickly.

I wish I had a workable solution. I am glad that I live in a country that allows me to speak out against any religion I want.

To those Muslims out there that are truly peaceful, I ask one thing of you. Take back your religion from the lunatics. Speak out against the idiocy that we see happening around the world. Let the world know that you exist. Demand that the Imams and leaders of Islamic counties speak out against these acts and reprimand those responsible for doing it. Demand that the Imams speak out against idiotic reactions to a simple cartoon drawn by a non-Muslim.